ARTS & CRAFTS: Pine Cone Owl

It’s the first day of autumn! Celebrate the commencement of this new season by decorating your home with a few of these adorable pine cone owls! Spend time with your child as you take them outside to gather materials for this quick and fun craft!

Materials:

Acorn Cups

Leaves

Hot Glue

Googly Eyes

Orange Craft Foam

Pine Cone

Cardstock

Instructions:

1. For a base, measure and cut a circle in a sheet of cardstock to fit the base of the pine cone.
2. Cut a beak and feet from the orange craft foam.
3. Glue the feet to the flat base of the pine cone.
4. Glue the base of the pine cone to the cardstock circle, ensuring that the pine cone will stand upright once dry.
5. For eyes, glue one googly eye into each acorn cup, then glue the cups near the top of the pine cone. In order for the eyes to sit into the pine cone, you may need to remove one or two of the pine cone spines.
6. For wings, glue one leaf to each side of the pine cone.
7. Glue the beak to the pine cone just below the center of the eyes.

For more great craft ideas, visit Fairmont’s Arts & Crafts Pinterest board!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Craft Instructions & Image by Broogly

A to Z: Better Breakfast Month

Is your child getting bored with eating cereal and toast every morning? There’s no better time to shake up your morning routine than in September, also known as Better Breakfast Month! In celebration of breakfast, here are a few fun, healthy, homemade recipes to try with your family!

Breakfast Sandwiches courtesy of Macheesmo 

Mini Berry Puff Pancakes courtesy of Super Healthy Kids Blog 

Ham & Egg Breakfast Cups courtesy of Recipe

Fruit Ring Pancakes courtesy of Listotic 

Peanut Butter & Banana Quesadillas courtesy of Listoti 

Breakfast Pizza courtesy of Listotic

 Fruit & Yogurt Cones courtesy of Listotic 

Omelette in a Bag courtesy of Favorite Family Recipes

For more ideas to spice up your family’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, visit Fairmont’s Snacktime Pinterest board!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Images & Recipes by Macheesmo, Super Healthy Kids Blog, Recipe, Listotic, & Favorite Family Recipes

BOOK REPORT: The Best Book I Read This Summer

In honor of Library Card Sign-Up Month, several Fairmont students and faculty members have recommended their favorite summer reads! Visit your local library to sign your child up for their very own library card and to check out these great titles!

The Story of Ferdinand, Munro Leaf

A passive, young bull calf, Ferdinand desires to spend his days smelling flower instead of participating in the famous bullfights of Spain.

Recommended by Ms. Aguilar, 1st Grade Teacher

Junie B., First Grader - The Dumb Bunny, Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones is stuck is a bunny costume, but does her best to win the Easter egg hunt without getting egg on her face!

Recommended by Saba T.

 Bob the Dog, Rodrigo Folgueira

Bob the Dog and Mark must figure out what to do when Bob accidentally swallows a yellow canary!

Recommended by Yasmina S.

 Junie B. Jones is (almost) a Flower Girl, Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones looks for ways to show everyone how grown-up she is at her Aunt Flo’s wedding.

Recommended by Sofia K.

What Makes Popcorn Pop?, Time Life for Children

A question and answer book for kids’ questions about food!

Recommended by Ms. Johnson, Junior Kindergarten Teacher

Spark the beginning of a life-long journey by encouraging your young learner to read! Before taking a trip to the library, be sure to visit Fairmont’s Pinterest board Literary Genius for great reading ideas and book recommendations!
  

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Images by Pinterest, BTSB, Goodreads, Little Sprout Speech, Comidaconalta, & Sort It Apps  

A to Z: Back-to-School Acrostic Advice Poem

Fun is always to be had in the classroom.
Always treat classmates and teachers with respect.
Incorrigible students can always learn and grow.
Running in the hallway is never a good idea.
Mondays can be tough, but they don’t last forever.
Offer assistance to younger students.
Never say, “The dog ate my homework.”
Treat others in a way that you would like to be treated.

Practice will turn the novice into the master.
Reading can take you on far-off adventures.
Inclusive is better than exclusive.
Voice your ideas and let yourself be heard.
Allow yourself to learn from mistakes.
Try out for school plays and sports teams.
Eat a good breakfast everyday.

Spend time with your family.
Colleges will love your ability to succeed.
Homework comes before relaxation.
Over-studying is not possible.
Opt to tell the truth in every situation.
Learning lasts a lifetime. 
Say a simple “Thank you” to your teachers.

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER: September 4

Weekly Highlights:

Historic Anaheim Campus

 Anaheim Hills Campus

North Tustin Campus 

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

A to Z: A Short History of Labor Day

To current American families, Labor Day signals the end of summer and a day off from work or school. However, Labor Day’s true intention is to celebrate the goals and achievements of American workers. The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City where workers spent the day attending parades, picnics, and addresses by community leaders. It wasn’t until 1894 that Congress passed a law making Labor Day a national holiday.

Through the Industrial Revolution, Americans worked long hours in harsh conditions. Labor unions soon became popular, as they acted as advocates for disparaged workers and children in the workforce. Peter McGuire, a New York City carpenter, is credited with the idea of implementing a national worker’s holiday. McGuire dedicated over a decade to organizing strikes, fighting for higher wages, and promoting workers’ rights.

So this Monday, while enjoying time with family and friends, take a moment to celebrate the workers who built America and paved the way for the social and economic prosperity that hard-working Americans enjoy today.

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Images and Video by History.com, Loc.gov,  & Wikipedia.com

FRIDAY FOLDER: August 28

Weekly Highlights:

North Tustin Campus

 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Historic Anaheim Campus

 Fairmont Preparatory Campus

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER: august 21

First Day of School at the Fairmont Campuses

 

To view more First Day photos, visit Fairmont Flickr!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

HOW TO: teach gratitude

An important lesson while growing up is learning to demonstrate gratitude and thankfulness. In a culture of instant gratification, it is important to foster an attitude of gratitude in your child. Studies show that children who engage in grateful behavior have more energy, demonstrate enthusiasm for school, and carry more positive paradigms overall. Here are several tips and activities to engage your child in the concept of gratitude:

1. Be Intentional - Practice gratitude in your own daily life and lead by example when interacting with your spouse, children, and other adults. Modeling the type of behavior you want from your child is the best way to encourage him or her to follow your lead.

2. Be Charitable - Show your children what it feels like to be a gracious giver. Encourage your child to clean out his or her room and donate any unneeded items to a local homeless shelter or church organization. Explaining to your child the purpose behind donating items to those who really need them is a great eye-opening exercise in gracious giving.
3. Be Acknowledging - Encourage your child to acknowledge all that they have been given by frequently discussing what you’re thankful for. Stating that you are grateful for a nice meal cooked by your spouse, time spent with loved ones, money to purchase a new item for the family, etc. will plant a seed of thankfulness as your child begins to identify specific things for which to be grateful.

4. Be Responsive - Teach your child to respond appropriately to others’ kindness by encouraging him or her to frequently say “Thank you.” Keep a stash of thank-you notes at home and have your child thank others after a gift or service has been given. Grandparents will love getting a handwritten card in the mail after sending a grandchild’s birthday present. Thank-you cards are also great for teachers, coaches, etc. to demonstrate gratitude for their time and commitment. Also see FAIRMONT FIVE: Teaching Good Manners for more etiquette tips.      

Gratitude equates to a positive attitude and optimistic outlook on life. “When kids recognize that the things they own and the opportunities they have come from someone other than themselves, it helps them develop a healthy understanding of how interdependent we all are - and they may be more inclined to treat others with genuine respect,” says Huffington Post article titled 11 Tips for Instilling True Gratitude in Your Kids.

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools
Image by Gratitude Habit
Videos by Greater Good Science Center, University of California - Berkeley